RESTRICTIONS have been applied on access to schools and council-run care homes as a local authority looks to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Flintshire Council has set out the steps it is taking to protect staff and the public on the same day twelve new cases were confirmed in Wales.

Visits to care homes have already been limited and headteachers have been advised to stop access to schools for everyone except for pupils and staff.

The authority is also encouraging its employees to either work from home or remotely and has cancelled all non-essential meetings.

Council leader Ian Roberts said all crucial services were still running .

But at a meeting of the Labour-led cabinet held this morning he said the situation could change with an announcement due later in the day on the closure of some facilities.

He said: “We fully empathise and share in the heightened sense of anxiety across communities in the current national situation – one which has no precedent in recent times.

“This is a fast-developing and changing national and international situation.

“Be assured that we have full business continuity planning in place across our services in readiness.

“There is a national, regional and local command and decision-making structure in place — from the national COBRA meeting led by the Prime Minister downwards – and we are playing our full part as your county council.  This is now in full operation.”

The council has been working with a group of senior professionals from health emergency and public service organisations in North Wales to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cllr Roberts said the response was being led by national governments and Public Health Wales, whose advice the council would continue to follow to inform local decision making.

He also welcomed action being taken by voluntary groups to support the vulnerable and elderly.

He said: “The situation will develop quickly and we will make decisions on prioritising our resources for the most critical services as necessary.

“We will make our first announcements on the temporary closure of local facilities and services from today.

“We have already restricted visits to the residential care homes we operate and have encouraged our independent care home providers to do the same.

“We have advised head teachers to restrict access to schools for all but pupils and their teaching and support staff and to cancel all non-essential communal events.”

He added: “We are issuing daily advice to social care partners and to schools.

“We appeal for all to help us maintain a sense of calm, to show personal responsibility in following national advice, and to contribute to community and family actions to support the most vulnerable wherever you can.”